Prominent physician Narayan Chandra Dutta, a central leader of BMA and pro-government Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Sachip), was stabbed to death by raiding assailants at his residence in Mahakhali area of the capital early Thursday.
Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta alias Nitai, 48, was an assistant professor at the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH).
He was an executive councillor of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and also a central-committee member of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad (Sachip), family sources and his colleagues said.
This happens to be a latest one in a number such incidents of murder of prominent persons in their residences in the capital city in recent times.
Mainul Haque, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Banani police station, said the incident occurred at the quarter of NIDCH in the early hours of the day.
“Criminals entered the first floor of the quarter by cutting window rods and stabbed him indiscriminately,” he added.
Later, he was rushed to the NIDCH where the attending doctor declared him dead.
Police suspected that criminals had come in to his house with the intent of committing theft. But as Nitai sensed the presence of those criminals, they stabbed him and left the house.
During the incident, Nitai was in his first-floor room and his mother Manju Dutta sleeping on the ground floor.
Dr Lucky Chowdhury, wife of the physician, was not at home as she went to their village home in Banshkhali upazila of Chittagong to enjoy the vacation on the occasion of Eid.
Hearing the news of the murder, the widow came back to Dhaka at around 1:00pm, family sources said.
Manju Dutta said, “I heard someone groaning at around 3:00am. Hearing the groans, I went up the first floor and knocked on the door of Nitai, which was locked from inside. After few moments, Nitai himself opened the door with severe stabbed injuries.”
She took her son to the ground floor where he told her to call in a doctor, the grief-stricken mother said narrating the incident.
Hearing the screams of Manju, two doctors from nearby quarters and one security guard rushed in.
They took Nitai to the NIDCH where doctors declared him dead.
Abdur Rouf, the on-duty security guard for the night, said, “Hearing the screams of doctor’s mother I rushed to the first floor of the house and found the doctor in a bloody state.”
Manju Dutta claimed 30 tolas of gold ornaments and cash were missing.
Suras Chowdhury, brother-in-law of the victim, said it was a pre-planned murder.
He claimed that a tense situation had been prevailing at NIDCH regarding the third-and fourth-class staff recruitment. “A doctor and his associates often threatened him for this.”
Dr Bashir Ahmed, super of the NIDCH, said Nitai never told us about any threat.
He also said, “A total of 55 people got appointment on August 1. Gautom, brother of Nitai, and his wife Karna Dash got appointment at that time.”
Nitai, who completed his MBMS from Mymensingh Medical College, was former president of Bangladesh Chhatra League MMC unit.
Police recovered and sent the body to Dhaka Medical College hospital for autopsy. Dr Sohel Mahmud of forensic department conducted the autopsy at 12:15pm.
Shahnewaz Khaled, assistant commissioner of DMP Gulshan Division, said four persons were detained in this connection.
“They are now under the custody of the detective branch of police. DB police are quizzing them regarding the murder,” he said.
But, for sack of investigation, he could not mention any name.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque asked law-enforcers to arrest the killer of Narayan Chandra Dutta.
He came up with the statement while visiting the bereaved family members of Doctor Narayan Chandra at the NIDCH.
He expressed his deep sorrow for the demise of the doctor and consoled his family members.
Syed Muddaser Ali, Health Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, Sharifuddin Ahmed, Secretary-General of BMA, and Dr Iqbal Arslan, Secretary-General of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad, accompanied the minister.
Source: Daily Sun
